The second of todays walk collects two Outlying fells in Hesk Fell and The Pike, both of which dominate the Birker Fell road skyline. What I found slightly odd after reading Wainwrights view of Hesk Fell as "featureless and nothing of interest" where as he described The Pike as charming and "the much better summit" I think Wainwright might have climbed Hesk Fell on a similar day as what we had today! but in my humble opinion Hesk Fell is for me, what a Outlying fell typically demonstrates.

Yes it is featureless, yes it's remote and yes it can be described as dull but isn't that what makes the fell so special, it's that reason why many return. Like many Outlying summits the steady plod over sometimes pathless ground can be unrewarding should you have your head buried looking down on your boots but if one stops to look around surely that is your reward for the slog. Today we were treated to the sound of Lapwings parading over the top of the wind, the wild grasses whistled as the wind blew through causing the 'viewer' to actually visualize the direction of the wind.

Through gaps in the cloud we were treated to views over the Dunnerdale and Coniston Fells in one direction while in the other, Whitfell and Black Combe, all from Hesk Fell.

We continued with the steady ascent passing a herd of cows over on our left who edged out onto the fell side the closer we got. Any remnants of a path was left behind along with a stone wall which had flanked to our right. Despite the summit never being too far away reaching it was quite tiring after trekking through hummocky grass which can cause thighs to ache and my thoughts were with Shaun who at this time who had spent the best part of all last week on the fell, aching limbs indeed but Shaun never mentioned a word as all our paces started to slow a little.

We climbed steadily into the low cloud passing over a succession of false summits before we arrived at the highest point of the summit.

With The Pike summit reached we turn heel and re-trace our steps and steadily climb back towards the stone wall crossing over the top before turning right and following the wall past a ruined sheepfold.

After leaving the stone wall behind to our right we now pass an ancient settlement high above on our left flank, here a stone wall square in shape was once the site of ancient settlers.

The crossing of Crosby Gill was made difficult by recent rains meaning the Gill was quite deep, we soon found a large boulder which was easily gained from our side but left a rather 'long jump' onto the other side of the bank, each of us made it eagerly watched on by those who had just made it across.

Rod's car and the fell road isn't too far away now, but before we end the walk we head towards a another ancient cairn found not far away from the road.

The fell road was quite busy by the time we arrived back at the cars and after spotting a gap in the traffic Rod reversed his car onto the same farm track close to Woodend Bridge before heading back towards Eskdale Green. Our cars are soon reached and while kitting down we can here La'l Ratty tooting in the distance. Hands are locked once again and we each thank each other for the time spent on the fell before collectively heading off in our seperate directions, mine would be to head back onto Birker Fell road where I stopped to take this photograph of Green Crag in the distance which had dominated our view for the best part of the day.